upperclass
Society's wealthy tier
Upperclass describes the highest social and economic stratum—those with inherited wealth, elite education, and established family names.
The term often carries connotations of privilege and refinement: upperclass manners, an upperclass accent.
In American universities, upperclass refers to juniors and seniors, the students in their final two years: upperclass housing, an upperclass seminar.
Large, stately home
- yachtLarge pleasure vessel
- portfolioCollected works or assets
- investmentsAssets bought for profit
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
dividends · endowment · opulence · luxury · heirloom · antiques · couture · jewelry
Prominent figure in fashionable circles
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- galaFestive formal occasion
- cotillionFormal society dance event
- poloMounted mallet sport
regatta · equestrian · exclusive · jet-set · elite · prestigious · refined · cultivated
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- bluebloodPerson of noble birth
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
- gentryHighborn but not noble
duke · duchess · countess · earl · viscount · baron · marquis · lord
Done before something else
- OxbridgeCombined name, two universities
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
- culturedEducated in arts, manners
well-read · finishing · tutored · alumnus · scholarly · intellectual · cosmopolitan · multilingual
mansion
Large, stately home
- yachtLarge pleasure vessel
- portfolioCollected works or assets
- investmentsAssets bought for profit
inheritance · dividends · endowment · opulence · luxury · heirloom · antiques · couture · jewelry · philanthropy
socialite
Prominent figure in fashionable circles
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- galaFestive formal occasion
- cotillionFormal society dance event
polo · regatta · equestrian · exclusive · jet-set · elite · prestigious · refined · cultivated · etiquette
nobility
Titled ruling class
gentry · duke · duchess · countess · earl · viscount · baron · marquis · lord · lady
preparatory
Done before something else
- OxbridgeCombined name, two universities
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
cultured · well-read · finishing · tutored · alumnus · scholarly · intellectual · cosmopolitan · multilingual
upperclasslower class
Lowest socioeconomic stratum
working class · underclass · proletariat · poor · impoverished